Anticommunist labor control goes bust

On March 22, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI) in an out-of-court settlement apologized for discrimination against Japanese Communist Party members. This shows that it is possible for workers to have large companies comply with the Constitution and the Labor Standards Law and end their anti-communist labor policy that tramples on human rights. It gives hope to many people who are suffering from the tyranny and mass restructuring of large corporations. Following is the gist of the Akahata report of March 23:

IHI made a confidential list of communist party members in order to suppress communists in workplaces. Using the "zero-communist (ZD) list", the company discriminated against "Marukyo (communists)" for nearly 40 years. The company instructed managerial staff, foremen, and section leaders to perform better than Marukyo in jobs and acquire skills that Marukyo have.

Through an in-house secret organ, IHI strengthened its anti-communist policy and forced other workers not to talk to Marukyo or even have eye contact with them.

IHI created the "ZC list" with help from security police through illegal means and updated the list every year.

With such an anti-communist policy as the driving force, IHI controlled the entire workforce. It cut 23,000 personnel, forced upon workers unpaid overtime work, and discriminated against women workers for the past 39 years.

However in March 2000, JCP members at the IHI Tanashi and Mizuho plants filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against the company, calling for an end to the discrimination against them. The "ZC list" was produced as evidence.

The Japanese Communist Party supported the plaintiff workers and took up this issue in both the Upper and Lower houses of the Diet. Even the minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare had to promise the JCP Dietmembers to look into the matter.

In the out-of-the-court settlement, IHI admitted the existence of the "ZC list" and apologized to the plaintiffs. Moreover, it promised to correct the wage disparity and take preventive measures. That was the moment of defeat for anti-communist policy. (end)